This is a really old-school paper, isn't it? Single author, lots of phrases such as "I find it fascinating", "I cannot help but notice", "I believe that this agreement...". - Neil Saunders

I like old-school, man. But the statements that you singled out are not the greatest achievements of scientific prose indeed. - Roland Krause

I found them "unusual in this day and age", but not necessarily unwelcome. - Neil Saunders

We do not read first person voice in science these days. The phrases you mention can all be made simpler and stronger, e.g. by "<fascinating statement only>" or "Note ...!" (Imperative rules OK!) . And never say that you believe something in a paper, because otherwise you shouldn't write it in the first place. - Roland Krause

(Ah, nitpicking on the internet, that's why I switched the VPN tunnel on") - Roland Krause